Brenton Coad – 2023 Victorian Champion of Champions Singles title winner

Article from Ballarat Highlands Bowls Region website:

Victoria Bowling Club’s Brenton Coad capped off a great season by winning the prestigious Men’s Champion of Champions Singles title at 2023 State Champions Week in Bendigo.

Brenton, the Ballarat Highlands Bowls Region’s Champion of Champions Men’s Singles winner, defeated Lilydale’s Joshua Sanders (Eastern Ranges Bowls Region) by 7 shots in the state final played on Saturday, 29th April 2023 at Bendigo East Bowling Club.

It was an outstanding effort by Brenton who defeated some of the state’s best bowlers on his way to the title.

In Round 1 he scored a 25-21 victory over Chiltern’s Reino Brunnenmeyer (Ovens & Murray) before producing the same scoreline defeating highly rated Ocean Grove bowler Tyson Cromie (Geelong) in the Quarter Finals.

Next up came Dandenong’s Kris Paine (Sandbelt) in the Semi Final where Brenton was dominant, scoring a 25-6 victory in a quality display of lawn bowls.

He was always in control in the final and was gob smacked after the win.

“I’m absolutely gob smacked and can’t believe it,” Brenton said.

“I actually wasn’t even going to go in the club championship, but thought I’d have a crack, and it’s a dream come true to win this event.”

“Going into the BHBR Champion of Champions event I was pumped and focused to do well.”

“At the Bendigo State Champs I went into this event with no real expectations.”

“To win was the absolute highlight of my bowls career“.

Brenton started bowling at Victoria Bowling Club in 2000 aged 15.

His father Kevin played bowls, and Brenton attended St Pats College where they had a lawn bowls side and he decided to have a go.

After a couple of practices, he got the call to play Division 7 that week, and the rest is history.

Brenton spent time off away from the game and returned this year to be part of Victoria’s successful Division 1 Pennant championship side.

“I had 5 years off due to starting a family, Millie now 7, and I also lost a bit of love for the game,” Brenton said.

“I got asked to play in Victoria’s Gold Nugget fours and we won the tournament.”

“I loved being back to see heaps of good mates from my club and to play with Kev, my dad again, and a few months later got the love back and played this year.”

Brenton’s victory means he will represent Victoria in the 2023 Australian Champion of Champions event in October.

Congratulations to Brenton Coad on winning the state’s Champion of Champions Men’s Singles and for becoming the Ballarat Highlands Bowls Region’s inaugural state champion.